Torch with integrated flashback arrestor

ABSTRACT

A head-mountable flashback arrestor for a gas torch having body, head, and tip sections. The head-mountable flashback arrestor may be disposed in a variety of gas torches, such as cutting torches, welding torches, heating torches, and so forth. The flashback arrestor also may embody a variety of filtering mechanisms, such as a porous metal structure. For example, the porous metal structure may be sintered from a metal particulate, such as a stainless steel powder, to form a non-linear or random flow pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present technique relates generally to torch systems, and more particularly, to flashback arrestors for gas torches. The present technique specifically provides a gas torch having a head-mounted flashback-arresting filter, such as a porous metal insert.

[0002] In torch systems, such as gas welding and cutting torches, the undesirable backflow of a fuel-oxygen mixture and heating affects may cause a flame to propagate back into the torch system. This inward flame propagation is generally termed flashback. For example, if the gas torch is improperly lit or it is not purged after the depletion of fuel or oxygen, then there is a potential risk of mixed fuel and oxygen being forced back into the gas torch. If an ignition source is subsequently introduced to this fuel-oxygen mixture, then a flame front may propagate back through the tip, head, and body sections of the gas torch and potentially further into the torch system. The internal flame front generally accelerates through the torch system until it is extinguished or until it no longer has an adequate fuel-oxygen mixture to burn. The risks of damage and harm to the user also generally increase as the internal flame front propagates further into the torch system.

[0003] Accordingly, a technique is needed for arresting flashback near the tip section of the gas torch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present technique provides a head-mountable flashback arrestor for a gas torch having body, head, and tip sections. The head-mountable flashback arrestor may be disposed in a variety of gas torches, such as cutting torches, welding torches, heating torches, and so forth. The flashback arrestor also may embody a variety of filtering mechanisms, such as a porous metal structure. For example, the porous metal structure may be sintered from a metal particulate, such as a stainless steel powder, to form a nonlinear or random flow pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

[0006]FIG. 1 is perspective view of an exemplary gas torch system of the present technique;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of an exemplary gas torch of the gas torch system illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of exemplary head and tip sections of the gas torch illustrated in FIG. 2;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of an exemplary flashback-arresting filter exploded from the head section illustrated in FIG. 3;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the flashback-arresting filter disposed in the head section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0011] As described in detail below, the present technique provides a system and method for arresting flashback in a torch system 10, such as illustrated in FIG. 1. The illustrated torch system 10 includes a gas torch 12 coupled to oxygen and fuel supplies 14 and 16 via oxygen and fuel supply lines 18 and 20, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the gas torch 12 is configured as a handheld cutting torch. However, the gas torch 12 may comprise a welding torch, a cutting torch, a general heating torch, or any other desired torch configuration. The torch system 10 also may comprise an automated positioning system, such as a computer controlled robotic arm. The torch system 10 also may include one more heating mechanisms to preheat the oxygen and fuel being supplied to the gas torch 12. In any of these configurations, the torch system 10 of the present technique has an integral flashback arrestor disposed in the head of the gas torch 12, such that flashback is arrested near the tip of the gas torch 12.

[0012] The torch system 10 also may have a variety of valves, pressure regulators, pressure gauges, and flow control mechanisms to facilitate the delivery of the oxygen and fuel to the gas torch 12. For example, the oxygen and fuel supplies 14 and 16 may have on/off valves 22 and 24, pressure regulators 26 and 28, and pressure gauges 30 and 32, respectively. The gas torch 12 also may have a variety of flow control mechanisms for the oxygen and fuel. For example, the gas torch 12 may have oxygen and fuel valves 34 and 36 to control the flow rates of oxygen and fuel through the gas torch 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the gas torch 12 also has a high-pressure valve or trigger 38 to supply additional oxygen for a cutting application. However, as mentioned above, the gas torch 12 may embody any suitable configuration of oxygen and fuel supply components within the scope of the present technique.

[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the gas torch 12 comprises a tip 40 coupled to a head 42, which is coupled to a body 44. The body 44 of the gas torch 12 has a handle 46 disposed about a high-pressure oxygen passageway 48, an oxygen passageway 50, and a fuel passageway 52. It also should be noted that the oxygen and fuel passageways 50 and 52 may be adapted to transport preheated oxygen and fuel, respectively. At a flow regulating section 54 of the body 44, the gas torch 12 has oxygen and fuel line couplings 56 and 58 that are interlockable with the oxygen and fuel supply lines 18 and 20, respectively. As discussed above, the oxygen and fuel valves 34 and 36 control the flow rates of oxygen and fuel through the oxygen and fuel passageways 50 and 52. In a cutting application, the trigger 38 opens and closes the high-pressure supply of oxygen through the high-pressure oxygen passageway 48 to create a flame suitable for cutting.

[0014] At the head 42 of the gas torch 12, the high-pressure oxygen passageway 48 extends into a high-pressure oxygen inlet 60, while the oxygen and fuel passageways 50 and 52 extend into oxygen and fuel inlets 62 and 64, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the oxygen and fuel inlets 62 and 64 feed the oxygen and fuel through a head-mountable flashback-arresting filter 66. After passing through the flashback-arresting filter 66, the oxygen and fuel mixes in the head 42, ejects from the tip 40, and forms a flame downstream of the tip 40. Upon engaging the trigger 38, the high-pressure oxygen also passes through the head 42, ejects from the tip 40, and enhances the flame for cutting. Any suitable tip 40 may be used within the scope of the present technique.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of the flashback-arresting filter 66 exploded from the head 42. The flashback-arresting filter 66 functions to arrest flashback in the head 42 prior to its propagation and acceleration further upstream into the body 44, the oxygen and fuel lines 18 and 20, and so forth. In the illustrated embodiment, the flashback-arresting filter 66 has a generally annular filter structure 68, an outer seal or oxygen-fuel separator 70 disposed about the annular filter structure 68, and a threaded retainer 72 disposed at an end 74 of the annular filter structure 68. The various components of the flashback-arresting filter 66 may be formed from any suitable materials, such as stainless steel, copper, brass, and so forth. In one embodiment of the flashback-arresting filter 66, the annular filter structure 68 comprises stainless steel, the outer seal 70 comprises copper, and the threaded retainer 72 comprises brass.

[0016] The annular filter structure 68 may comprise a variety of filtering mechanisms, such as a porous metal filter. For example, the annular filter structure 68 may comprise a sintered metal filter element made of a particulate metal (e.g., a powdered stainless steel), which is pressed into shape and sintered to join the particulate metal into a porous metallic mass. However, any other suitable manufacturing process, such as metal injection molding, also may be used to form the annular filter structure 68. Given the random size, shape, and packing of the metal particles, the annular filter structure 68 has relatively random pores extending through the metallic mass. The particular size, direction, and characteristics of these random pores depend largely on the type of metal and manufacturing process used to create the annular filter structure 68. However, the foregoing random pores generally exhibit nonlinear passageways having relatively fine diameters, such as diameters less than 100 microns (e.g., 5-20 microns). In operation, these random pores cool and extinguish a flame front, i.e., flashback propagating back into the gas torch 12.

[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the flashback-arresting filter 66 is insertable into a filter receptacle 76 of the head 42, such that the annular filter structure 68 is disposed adjacent the oxygen and fuel inlets 62 and 64. As mentioned above, the outer seal or oxygen-fuel separator 70 may be disposed between the oxygen and fuel inlets 62 and 64 to prevent mixing of the oxygen and fuel prior to its passage through the annular filter structure 68. The oxygen and fuel subsequently mixes downstream of the annular filter structure 68. The relatively fine porous nature of the annular filter structure 68 also reduces backflow of the oxygen-fuel mixture, thereby further reducing the potential risk of flashback upstream of the head 42. The outer seal 70 may be press-fit, shrink fit, snap-fit, or otherwise secured about the annular filter structure 68. For example, the annular filter structure 68 may have a groove to accept the outer seal 70. Alternatively, the annular filter structure 68 may have a variable diameter or wedge-shape to facilitate a compressive fit with the outer seal 70. The outer seal 70 also may have an outer wedge shape 80 that is sealable against a wedge section 82 in the filter receptacle 76. Any other suitable seal mechanism is within the scope of the present technique.

[0018] The high-pressure oxygen inlet 60 also may be sealed from the oxygen and fuel inlets 62 and 64 to prevent undesirable mixing upstream of the head 42. For example, the high-pressure oxygen inlet 60 may be coupled directly to the tip 40, e.g., through a passageway 78, such that the high-pressure oxygen does not mix with the oxygen and fuel from the inlets 62 and 64 until ejected from the tip 40.

[0019] As mentioned above and illustrated in FIG. 5, the flashback-arresting filter 66 also may be retained in the filter receptacle 76 via the threaded retainer 72. The threaded retainer 72 may be press-fit, shrink fit, snap-fit, or otherwise secured about the annular filter structure 68. For example, the annular filter structure 68 may have a groove to accept the threaded retainer 72. Alternatively, the annular filter structure 68 may have a variable diameter or wedge-shape to facilitate a compressive fit with the threaded retainer 72. Any other suitable attachment mechanism is within the scope of the present technique. In operation, the annular filter structure 60 may be secured tightly within the filter receptacle 76 by rotating the thread retainer 72 into internal threads 84 within the filter receptacle 76. Alternatively, the entire annular filter structure 68 may be compressively fit within the filter receptacle 76. An external retainer (not shown) also may be engaged with external retainer threads 86 to secure the tip 40 to the head 42.

[0020] While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An industrial torch, comprising: a torch body having oxygen and gas supply passages; a torch head coupled to the torch body and comprising a flashback arrestor disposed in a path of oxygen and gas flows through the torch head; and a torch tip coupled to the torch head.
 2. The industrial torch of claim 1, wherein the flashback arrestor comprises a hollow insert.
 3. The industrial torch of claim 1, wherein the flashback arrestor comprises a porous metallic structure having nonlinear passageways.
 4. The industrial torch of claim 3, wherein the porous metallic structure comprises a pressed and sintered metallic powder.
 5. The industrial torch of claim 3, wherein the porous metallic structure comprises a metal injection molded filter.
 6. The industrial torch of claim 3, wherein the porous metallic structure comprises random pores less than 100 microns in diameter.
 7. The industrial torch of claim 1, wherein the flashback arrestor comprises a seal disposed between the oxygen and gas flows.
 8. The industrial torch of claim 7, wherein the seal comprises an annular metallic ring.
 9. The industrial torch of claim 1, wherein the flashback arrestor is adapted to prevent a flame from propagating beyond the torch head.
 10. The industrial torch of claim 1, wherein the torch has an oxygen-gas mixing region downstream of the flashback arrestor.
 11. The industrial torch of claim 1, wherein the oxygen and gas supplies are preheated supplies.
 12. The industrial torch of claim 1, wherein the torch body further comprises a high-pressure oxygen supply passage.
 13. A torch head for an industrial torch, comprising: a torch body coupling section having an oxygen inlet and a fuel inlet; a head-mounted flashback arrestor disposed downstream of the oxygen and fuel inlets; an oxygen-fuel mixing region disposed downstream of the head-mounted flashback arrestor; and a torch tip coupling section disposed downstream of the head-mounted flashback arrestor.
 14. The torch head of claim 13, wherein the head-mounted flashback arrestor comprises a porous metallic filter having random passageways.
 15. The torch head of claim 14, wherein the random passageways comprises nonlinear pores having a diameter less than 100 microns.
 16. The torch head of claim 14, wherein the porous metallic filter comprises an annular insert.
 17. The torch head of claim 13, wherein the head-mounted flashback arrestor comprises a seal disposed between the oxygen and fuel inlets.
 18. The torch head of claim 13, wherein the head-mounted flashback arrestor comprises a threaded retainer ring.
 19. The torch head of claim 13, wherein the head-mounted flashback arrestor is adapted to deter flame propagation upstream of the torch head.
 20. The torch head of claim 13, wherein the head-mounted flashback arrestor comprises a pressed and sintered metallic filter.
 21. The torch head of claim 13, wherein the head-mounted flashback arrestor comprises a metal injection molded filter.
 22. A head-mountable flashback arrestor for an industrial torch having a body, a head, and a tip, comprising: a porous metallic filter insertable into the head within the path of oxygen and gas flow, wherein the porous metallic filter has nonlinear passageways
 23. The head-mountable flashback arrestor of claim 22, wherein the porous metallic filter comprises an annular insert.
 24. The head-mountable flashback arrestor of claim 23, wherein the annular insert comprises a nonporous ring disposed between the oxygen and gas flow regions.
 25. The head-mountable flashback arrestor of claim 23, wherein the annular insert comprises a threaded retainer ring.
 26. The head-mountable flashback arrestor of claim 22, wherein the porous metallic filter comprises random metal particulate having the nonlinear passageways extending thereabout.
 27. An industrial torch, comprising: a torch body having oxygen and gas supply passages; a torch head coupled to the torch body and comprising means for arresting a flame inside the torch head; and a torch tip coupled to the torch head.
 28. The industrial torch of claim 27, wherein the torch head comprises means for sealing oxygen and gas flows upstream of the means for arresting the flame.
 29. The industrial torch of claim 27, wherein the torch has an oxygen-gas mixing region downstream of the means for arresting the flame.
 30. The industrial torch of claim 27, wherein the oxygen and gas supplies are preheated supplies.
 31. The industrial torch of claim 27, wherein the torch body further comprises a high-pressure oxygen supply passage.
 32. A method of operating an industrial torch, comprising the acts of: separately flowing gas and oxygen through a body section and into a head section of the industrial torch; flowing the gas and oxygen through a flashback arrestor in the head section; and ejecting an oxygen-gas mixture from a tip section coupled to the head section.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the act of flowing the gas and oxygen through the flashback arrestor comprises the act of passing the gas and oxygen through a filtering mechanism having random passageways.
 34. The method of claim 32, wherein the act of flowing the gas and oxygen through the flashback arrestor comprises the act of preventing flashback upstream of the head section.
 35. The method of claim 32, wherein the act of flowing the gas and oxygen through the flashback arrestor comprises the act of forcing the gas and oxygen through nonlinear passageways.
 36. The method of claim 32, wherein the act of flowing the gas and oxygen through the flashback arrestor comprises the act of separately passing the gas and oxygen through the flashback arrestor.
 37. The method of claim 32, comprising the act of creating the oxygen-gas mixture within the head section downstream of the flashback arrestor.
 38. The method of claim 32, comprising the act of combusting the oxygen-gas mixture downstream of the tip section.
 39. The method of claim 32, comprising the act of terminating a flame propagating into the industrial torch at the flashback arrestor. 